KOUVOLA - HANKO

The Kouvola–Hanko is also the longest route of the South by Cycle Bikepacking Route Network, offering 550-kilometre and 8-10 day gravel rich tour. Throwing in a couple of rest days, Kouvola-Hanko is a laid-back, just a little short of fortnight escapade into the lush and versatile nature of Southern Finland and it's culture, including skinny-dipping, forest roaming, berry picking, camp fires and having an opera of bird singing as your alarm clock.

​

The route cuts across the Kymenlaakso and Uusimaa area, including the Helsinki metropolitan area, visiting Nuuksio and Sipoo Natural parks, the prettiest recreational areas and the main cities and villages of the 13 municipalities in the area.  The majority of the route is gravel roads and dirt forest roads, spiced up with occasional sections of  smooth and easy single track, which lead from village to village visiting the publicly managed fire rings, lean-tos and free camping areas. 

​

There are 56 000 lakes of over one hectare in Finland and roughly a 1000 of those are in the route area. Therefore, there are possibilities for a swim usually multiple times a day and most of the recommended camping areas are by either a lake or a river, as well. Additionally, part of the route follows the southern coast line of Finland, giving it a scenic duality of the wall-like forests of inner lakelands and the open views of the coast to the Gulf of Finland.

​

By the Every Man's Rights, everyone has the freedom to roam the nature, forage, fish (with certain limitations) as well as camp (nearly) anywhere, despite whoever owns or occupies the land. This creates the backbone of the Finnish outdoor culture and is a treat for self-sufficient tourer's as well: in case of a mechanical, multi-hour midday nap or full-day beach party, it's ok by law to camp where ever you find yourself at dusk.  However, the arctic flora & fauna is sensitive and fragile and it's good to stick with the official recommended areas to camp. Usually they offer a fire ring with firewood, log-style picnic tables, a lean-to or a cooking shelter by a lake and a compost toilet, so reaching those gems is very much worth it. 

​

The route crosses on most days multiple restaurants, cafés, restaurants and grocery stores a day, so food & water wise touring is straight forward and you get away with max half-a-days rations and usually less. There is also many of historical and cultural sites along the way, including old ironwork villages, old villas and manors, and the mediaval river town of Porvoo, for instance.